Disney World fans, get ready to start counting down. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival returns this year, and the reveals are already rolling in.
Along with the usual mix of returning favorites and new marketplace bites, EPCOT just dropped word of a brand-new attraction built entirely around cheese. Curious what’s in store? Let’s break it down.
Mark Your Calendars for This Year’s Festival
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival kicks off on August 27 and runs through November 21. For anyone who hasn’t experienced it, picture a giant, park-wide celebration of global cuisine spread across World Showcase. Guests stroll from marketplace to marketplace, sampling small plates and drinks inspired by cultures from around the world, while live entertainment keeps the energy going throughout the festival’s run.
Fans keep coming back year after year for good reason. The festival packs an entire world tour of flavors into a single afternoon, no passport required. It also transforms EPCOT with pop-up kiosks, food stalls, and demonstrations that appear only during this window, giving guests a completely different way to experience the park. With nearly three months on the calendar, there’s plenty of time to work your way through it all.
Cheese Steals the Spotlight at CommuniCore Hall
Here’s the headline news: EPCOT is adding a brand-new, hands-on exhibit dedicated entirely to cheese. Guests can expect fun facts and interactive elements that dig into the history behind this beloved dairy staple. The exhibit sets up shop inside CommuniCore Hall, giving visitors a dedicated stop to learn something new in between marketplace hops.
Why the Exhibit Waits Its Turn
Don’t expect this one to open alongside the rest of the festival. The cheese exhibit runs from September 18 through November 8, a noticeably shorter stretch than the full festival. The delay comes down to scheduling.
CommuniCore Hall is currently occupied by GoofyCore for Cool Kids’ Summer, which sticks around through September 8. Once that wraps, the space clears out just in time for cheese fans to move in for the back half of the festival.
A Taste of What’s Coming
The complete 2026 menu and marketplace lineup are still being finalized, but Disney has already shared three returning favorites to hold fans over. Gyozas of the Galaxy brings back its street corn-inspired chicken dumplings, served with tomatillo salsa verde, a corn salad, cotija cheese, lime crema, and cilantro.
Australia’s marketplace returns with its grilled bushberry-spiced shrimp skewer, paired with sweet-and-sour vegetables and a coconut-chili sauce. And The Alps marketplace brings its Kirschwasser torte back for dessert lovers, layered with cherry-brandy buttercream, fondant, sugared almonds, and cherry compote.
Not every marketplace opens right away, either. Several roll out on a staggered schedule as the festival progresses, so keep an eye out for the Foodie Guide once it drops. That guide will spell out the full menu and confirm exactly when each marketplace opens its doors.
Chase the Cheese Trail
Cheese lovers get another reason to celebrate this year, too. Emile’s Fromage Montage is confirmed to return, sending guests on a self-guided hunt across select Global Marketplaces for cheese-inspired dishes. Every eligible dish you try earns a stamp in your festival passport.
Fill it up, and you’ll cash it in for a special festival treat. It’s a clever way to turn snacking into a bit of a game, and it gives cheese fans extra motivation to try dishes they might otherwise skip.
Get Ready to Dig In
Between a brand-new cheese exhibit, the return of Emile’s Fromage Montage, and a menu already teasing some serious flavor, this year’s festival is shaping up to be one worth building a trip around. More marketplace announcements and menu details should keep rolling out as August 27 approaches.
So, are you ready to add this festival to your fall plans? With cheese getting its own spotlight this year, it might be the push you needed to book that trip.
